Executive Summary1 This report deals with answering what, at first glance, appear to be relatively simplequestions regarding the effects of particulate air pollution on mortality in the UK. Wehave tried to explain not only the approaches we have used to answer the questions,but also the limitations of the interpretations that can be put on the results. Weanticipate that it will be useful to policy makers and elected representatives, and hopealso that it will make a helpful contribution to public awareness and understanding ofthe health effects of air pollution. In summary:a Airborne particles comprise an anthropogenic component and a naturalcomponent.b There is an interest in the effects of air pollution on mortality in terms of theimpact that policies for reduction would have, or the current burden in termsof public health.c These effects can be expressed at the population level in terms of lifeexpectancy, and on loss or gain in life years. The burden can also be expressedin terms of deaths occurring in a specified year across the population.d As everyone dies eventually no lives are ever saved by reducing environmentalexposures – deaths are delayed resulting in increased life expectancy.e These measures are averages or aggregates across the population; it is notknown how the effects are distributed among individuals.2 We conclude that:a Removing all anthropogenic (‘human-made’) particulate matter air pollution(measured as PM2.5 1) could save the UK population approximately 36.5 millionlife years over the next 100 years and would be associated with an increase inUK life expectancy from birth, i.e. on average across new births, of six months.This shows the public health importance of taking measures to reduceair pollution.b A policy which aimed to reduce the annual average concentration of PM2.5 by1 μg/m3 would result in a saving of approximately 4 million life years or anincrease in life expectancy of 20 days in people born in 2008.c The current (2008) burden of anthropogenic particulate matter air pollution is,with some simplifying assumptions, an effect on mortality in 2008 equivalent …………………..
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